Chronoblast - Skyravens (XBLIG 360) - by n0rty games

[n0rtygames]

Well considering how tough the game is anyway, and you've modeled it off of games that give three extends in total, I wasn't even sure what to think about how sodding hard the bloody things were to get. XD

Two score extends is usually a good number, unless you're Gustav or some shit. For this game I would think good extend thresholds would be 50 million and 150 million, but that's just me. I'm not exactly an authority in the matter, I just think the current numbers are a bit strange. :3

This is kinda what I said in the dev thread a while back I guess. Without accurate score data to base things off, seeing where people are going and so on - I can't really gauge where to put the extends. Can't really do it without people actually playing it on the correct platform and XNA Peer Reviewers with the exceptions of those who are regulars here - generally can't play shmups for shit.

I know you guys get how these games progress. 1.0x versions of certain CAVE games have historically had some bad design decisions and retarded levels of difficulty. The downer is that it'll probably hurt sales with casual gamers but.. meh. Gives me more information for the next game right?

[BareKnuckleRoo]

I know you guys get how these games progress. 1.0x versions of certain CAVE games have historically had some bad design decisions and retarded levels of difficulty. The downer is that it'll probably hurt sales with casual gamers but.. meh. Gives me more information for the next game right?

I think if you're marketing to casual gamers, erring on the side of caution is wise. It's probably better to make a game too easy then tweak it by upping bullet speed/rank or giving fewer resources than making it too hard and having to patch it easier.

[Aliquantic]

I think it's too early to say what's a good score for the extends, but it's really easy to score a lot if you're not dying/bombing, but you get peanuts otherwise(I got a little under 150m on stage 3 alone, and then... 5m on a calamitous stage 4), so it seems really hard to balance. Maybe you could have an extend for people who've run out of lives by stage 3/4, Gigawing style

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Will give this Chronoblast a spin & see how it fares. Then see how it fares on a low-res 15Khz arcade monitor setup with an obligatory UVc setup.

Thank you nOrty games for the heads up about your Xblig shmup release being available to d/l.

It should already be listed in the Japanese Xblig marketplace as well for us JPN region 360 owners.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[n0rtygames]

Will give this Chronoblast a spin & see how it fares. Then see how it fares on a low-res 15Khz arcade monitor setup with an obligatory UVc setup.

Thank you nOrty games for the heads up about your Xblig shmup release being available to d/l.

It should already be listed in the Japanese Xblig marketplace as well for us JPN 360 owners.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Awesome Gameplay tweaks aside I've been dying to get feedback about how it runs on proper kit. If I had the money and physical space I'd be able to test it myself. Sadly, I'm in no position yet.. as much as I want to!

Apparently, Fagin says it looks just right on his PC CRT with SLG3000 attached, so that's a good start... I was actually really worried about this myself and started a long discussion with him on youtube a while back trying to find out everything I could about xbox scaling, scanlines, lower res etc etc.

I mean really.. nobody should be that worried about scanlines. It's just not right really.

[Cagar]

EDIT: Alright, registered UK account. Now how do I get ms-points..

[safetyboy]

EDIT: Alright, registered UK account. Now how do I get ms-points..

I think you can just add euro points to the account, not 100% on that but I am going to have to try it. Or just use credit card when you are logged in.

[Emuser]

I decided to go ahead and get this (it IS only a dollar after all lol). Overall I like it so far, can't really complain about aesthetics at all since this is a $1 indie game. I did stumble upon something pretty lulzworthy for the stage 1 boss on hell though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii_lyDyDGBc

The quality isn't very good at all since this came from an old phone, but I was able to play with 1 hand and hold the phone with the other so I figured I'd do this.

[n0rtygames]

Video seems to be private...

Guessing that's the safespot?


@Cagar, no idea on where you can buy UK points I'm afraid dude. Can't you just log on to MS website and do it that way?

[Emuser]

Oops, I mean't to do unlisted, should be viewable now without any problems.

[n0rtygames]

Oops, I mean't to do unlisted, should be viewable now without any problems.

Awesome. I knew about the first phase safespot, I actually didn't know about the second. I let the first phase slide because I discovered it quite late and had more important things to fix up and well, really needed the feedback I've been getting because I've been playing my own game too long.

Well played :>

[n0rtygames]

I did stumble upon something pretty lulzworthy for the stage 1 boss on hell though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii_lyDyDGBc

So, repro'd this.

Consider yourself in the next credits...

[fagin]

Steve,
Just started playing this in anger tonight.....

Could you provide a splash screen after the game over bit that shows where you're placed within your respective hi score league? Would give the incentive to "keep going" if you're aiming for a league place?

Something like "You're placed XX (position) with yyyyyyy (score)"?

This would also "add" to the end of game portion as it's quite abrupt.

There are a few micro stutters in places. I suspect you're aware of them.


Regards,
Shaun

[emphatic]

There are a few micro stutters in places. I suspect you're aware of them.

I just finished playing this a moment ago, and I noticed these too. Is the game multitasking (saving/syncing) as you play?

[n0rtygames]

Could you provide a splash screen after the game over bit that shows where you're placed within your respective hi score league? Would give the incentive to "keep going" if you're aiming for a league place?

Something like "You're placed XX (position) with yyyyyyy (score)"?

Excellent idea! I'll see that gets done. Shouldn't be hard at all!

I just finished playing this a moment ago, and I noticed these too. Is the game multitasking (saving/syncing) as you play?

I think it could be related yes. Also, XNAs garbage collection is complete nonsense and runs periodically - so its possible that could be kicking in. It doesn't quite kill the experience, but it does get annoying I agree. I don't know how much I can do about that.. I'll look in to it though!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

D/l'ed the demo & liked what I played/saw. The lead sexy female characters, especially in Hell mode setting, is quite something -- perhaps a unlockable gallery with them in various poses/garb? Luckily, I had some spare MS points set aside for a rainy day & bought it right away. I like how the tate option is fully adjustable for the old-school 4:3 based CRT monitors.

Is it possible to add some different Chronoblast 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio-sized skins to spice things up?

A helpful suggestion to include a slick opening intro leading into the main title screen with some eye-catchy animation + obligatory demo sequence run + semi-animated Game Over screen would give Chronoblast that unmistakable & proper arcade shmup PCB vibe/aestethic.

And would it be possible to have some widescreen skins rotate in relation to the game screen if played on a tated 16:9 monitor setup?

I gave CB a generous five star rating as it's quite an enjoyable Xblig shmup title with the highly touted tate option from the get-go.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Emuser]

I did stumble upon something pretty lulzworthy for the stage 1 boss on hell though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii_lyDyDGBc

So, repro'd this.

Consider yourself in the next credits...

If you do that, put me under Emuser and not my name on here :O

I am still playing and seeing if I stumble upon anything else strange, so far I can't complain too much other than the TLB having a shitton of health. I'll give more suggestions I can think of after a couple days of time.

[Emuser]

Haven't stumbled upon anything like the Hell 1 boss thing earlier, but some random suggestions:

Add options menu to adjust volumes(sfx, music, voices)
Consistent music whenever at main menu
Different background options
Restart option in practice menu
Skippable bootup/ending(skip to "bad/better/best" ending during cutscene)

Fix stage 1 hell boss safespot/freeze exploit
Possible health reduction to TLB

Not important but some random ideas for slight balance tweaks, Akane has the best speed and damage as of now and barely suffers any speed penalty for using A+C Laser Shot, ideas:
-Sasha’s pod movement speed increase
-Increase Akane’s A+C speed penalty, barely noticeable(DFKBL)
-Valeria has increased speed while lasering(Abnormal)

[Enemy]

Could you provide a splash screen after the game over bit that shows where you're placed within your respective hi score league? Would give the incentive to "keep going" if you're aiming for a league place?

Something like "You're placed XX (position) with yyyyyyy (score)"?

+1 for the above.

[Tyjet]

Skippable bootup/ending(skip to "bad/better/best" ending during cutscene)

I too would suggest skippable cutscenes. Would rather quickly start another round after a 1cc instead of waiting 3 minutes for the ending to end.

Is it just me or is the stage 5 midboss impossible to kill? I tried bombing it, but not much damage was made. Unless the lasers have something to do with killing it, I'm not sure how to go about it.

[n0rtygames]

Is it just me or is the stage 5 midboss impossible to kill? I tried bombing it, but not much damage was made. Unless the lasers have something to do with killing it, I'm not sure how to go about it.

You can't kill the stage 5 midboss, just survive it and get your hitcount up.

It just does a flyby and comes back as the final boss... This is due to lack of assets.

[guigui]

Is it just me or is the stage 5 midboss impossible to kill? I tried bombing it, but not much damage was made. Unless the lasers have something to do with killing it, I'm not sure how to go about it.

You can't kill the stage 5 midboss, just survive it and get your hitcount up.

It just does a flyby and comes back as the final boss... This is due to lack of assets.

I personnaly love how final boss shows itself during Stage 5

[Emuser]

You are a sick cruel man with that TLB final pattern. I find it kind of silly that you can "see" the ending if you clear the TLB in practice though...dat message :<

[Tyjet]

Is it just me or is the stage 5 midboss impossible to kill? I tried bombing it, but not much damage was made. Unless the lasers have something to do with killing it, I'm not sure how to go about it.

You can't kill the stage 5 midboss, just survive it and get your hitcount up.

It just does a flyby and comes back as the final boss... This is due to lack of assets.

I see it now. I got the impression that you had the ability to kill it because of the life bar. I was hoping to kill it off to get the extra items, otherwise using a super is the way to go. In my opinion, I would rather have the option to speed kill the midboss and then have a bunch of popcorn enemies show right after it.

[n0rtygames]

You are a sick cruel man with that TLB final pattern.

No I'm not! I'm lovely... look at all my responsiveness!

I find it kind of silly that you can "see" the ending if you clear the TLB in practice though...dat message :<

Yeah, another thing I'm looking to get fixed really.

It's not exactly something that stops the game being played properly, so I basically just wanted to get it released...

...wait what.. you cleared the TLB?

[Emuser]

Only in practice yes, With Akane I can 1 bomb the first phase and no bomb the 2nd and 3rd phases but that last phase good god almighty.

Another question concerning rank: I'm pretty sure that there is rank present and that bullet speed will increase as a result, but tinkering with rank boost in practice seems to do nothing, is it implemented yet or only the framework?

Also, if this rank boost does play a factor in overall bullet speed, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have a "rank box" displaying the current rank via SDOJ, it would sure help with practice stuff

[n0rtygames]

Only in practice yes, With Akane I can 1 bomb the first phase and no bomb the 2nd and 3rd phases but that last phase good god almighty.

Another question concerning rank: I'm pretty sure that there is rank present and that bullet speed will increase as a result, but tinkering with rank boost in practice seems to do nothing, is it implemented yet or only the framework?

Also, if this rank boost does play a factor in overall bullet speed, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have a "rank box" displaying the current rank via SDOJ, it would sure help with practice stuff

Rank mostly just affects normal mode/autobomb. I haven't quite come up with a sensible logic for hell mode yet...

[casualcoder]

What a great gift to get something like this out of the blue. I've been looking forward to this for months and the game does not disappoint. It's great to see gems like this appearing before Microsoft dumps the xblig platform altogether. I forgot to give it a rating, will be giving it a solid 5. n0rty, I got your email and I replied though my company address so I'm not sure if it got through.

[fagin]

Steve,
Not sure if it's already been said, but a replay and save feature would be most excellent...... would certainly help any YT video runs for us cab users! lol

BTW.... I was acutely aware that my video quality wasn't great at getting the detail (which I thought was strange at the time). With the SLG3000 in toe on my tri-sync, the image appeared to lose some fidelity and sharpness. I've just tested with an Extron Emotia scan convertor.... converting the 31khz 640x480 signal to a proper 320x240 15khz signal. Image is a lot sharper and really makes it pop in scanline / retro glory.

Will see if I can do a supplementry video tonight focusing on CRT quality.... may use another screen set-up for playing/video convenience.

I'm liking this.... I'm liking this a lot.

[Enemy]

Steve, have you had any thoughts on any filters in display mode at all (scanlines/crt emu etc) for anyone who cant stick the 360's output through a slg3000. would be nice for my front room xbox on the lcd.